Counter-gravity chin up and all body exercise machine

ABSTRACT

A counter gravity exercise machine includes a frame, a seat beam for supporting a user, pivotally connected to the frame at a first pivot point on the frame, a link connected to the seat beam, wherein the link has an upper link end and a lower link end, an adjustment slider-slidingly connected to the seat beam and the link at the lower link end, wherein sliding user adjustment changes resistance via change in a mechanical advantage, a handle arm pivotally connected to the, link at a fourth pivot point and wherein the handle arm rotates and is rotably mounted on a second pivot, and an upright beam having an upper upright beam end and a lower upright beam end, wherein the lower upright beam end is connected to the frame and the upper upright beam end is connected to the second pivot point.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is entitled to the benefit of Provisional PatentApplication No. 60/774,078 filed on Feb. 14, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to fitness exercise machines fortraining upper body and lower body exercises utilizing the user's weightas a source of the resistance.

Description of Related Art including information disclosed under 37 CFR1.97 and 1.98

Potts, U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,458, discloses an upper body exerciseapparatus to assist an exerciser to do chin-ups and dips. The apparatusincludes a frame having a base, a platform parallel to the base for theexerciser to stand on, chin-up handles and dip handles extending fromthe frame, a system to oscillate the platform vertically between a lowerposition and an upper position while maintaining the platform parallelto the base and while avoiding any angular displacement, a pneumaticcylinder for providing a force to the oscillating system which isopposite the weight of the exerciser, and a control and monitor wherebythe force is controlled and the oscillation of the platform ismonitored. While the pad may be lowered for the user to get on using thepneumatic control, the pneumatic system is costly and requiresmaintenance. Holmes, U.S. Past. No. 5,312,313, discloses an upper bodyexercise apparatus to assist an exerciser to do chin-ups and dips. Theapparatus includes a frame having a base, a support for the exerciser,and chin-up handles and dip handles extending from the frame. A motivedevice provides for movement of the support vertically between a lowerposition and an upper position. However, the handles are fixed on astationary frame therefore the apparatus has to provide a means tocounter the weight of the user. Webb, U.S. Pat. No. 5,322,489, disclosesan exercise machine for assisting a user in performing chin-ups and dipsincludes a pair of handles attached to a frame and a kneeling platformoperably connected to the frame by a four-bar linkage. The pair ofhandles may be a pair of chin-up handles attached to an upper portion ofthe frame or a pair of dip handles attached to a medial portion of theframe. This invention provides weights to counter the user's weight toprovide an assist for exercises, and the user must climb onto the padthat is placed at its highest position of the motion range. Rasmussen,U.S. Pat. No. 5,334,120, discloses Gravity Sled Exercise Machine whereinleveraged body forces act to overcome gravity to move a two piece bodysled and client upward, along biangular support rails, from a horizontalto a vertical orientation. To support the torso during the change inspatial orientation, a fixed angle sled seat reciprocates in linealmotion on the lower of two differentially inclined rails. Machineresistance is gravity controlled by body/sled weight, and rail angles,supplemented with an optional arrangement for adding weightedness to thesled. The machine uses weights to change the amount of the resistance,and multiple pads and their support frame require a complex structure.Ropp, U.S. Pat. No. 5,372,556, discloses an assisted pull-up and dipexercise device which includes a frame, with both a pull-up bar and dipbar, capable of supporting a person while performing these exercises.The invention includes an assist arm assembly which connects to theframe at the pivot point about which the assist arm assembly rotates.The assist arm assembly can be loaded at one end to provide variablecounter-balancing support for the person while performing the exercise.The device requires weights to assist the user who must climb onto thepad to begin exercises. Holmes, U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,959, shows an upperbody exercise apparatus to assist an exerciser to do chin-ups and dips.The apparatus includes a frame having a base, a support for theexerciser, and chin-up handles and dip handles extending from the frame.A motive device provides for movement of the support vertically betweena lower position and an upper position. This invention uses weights toassist the user, and the pad is positioned at its highest point of therange while the user is not on, an inconvenience and a danger.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention teaches certain benefits in construction and usewhich give rise to the objectives described below.

The present invention is an exercise machine to be used mainly for chinup, dip, and knee raise exercises utilizing the user's body weight as asource of the machine's resistance. Depending on the setup of themachine, more exercises covering other upper and lower body exercisessuch as chest press, shoulder press, and row are possible. The machinehas a resistance adjustment to change the amount of resistance the userfeels upon doing various exercises. The machine has a handle adjustmentthat changes the position of a handle arm to accommodate differentbody-size users and various exercises and their motion range. Apreferred embodiment includes a base frame that stands on a floor, and aseat frame that is pivotally connected to the base frame at a firstpivot point on the base frame, and a handle arm that is also pivotallyconnected to the base frame at a second pivot point on the base frame.The handle arm and the seat frame are linked such that when the handlearm is moved, the seat frame moves simultaneously. The handle arm andthe seat frame may be linked by using a link that is pivotally connectedto the handle arm and to the seat frame at each end. At least one end ofthe link is the movably-fixed point along the length of the frame ofeither the handle arm or the seat frame such that the end of the linkcan be selectively fixed at a desired position relative to the relevantpivot point on the base frame, which makes the resistance adjustment foradjusting the amount of resistance for various exercises. In theembodiment, the handle adjustment is placed within the link such thatthe angular position of the handle arm may be set by changing the lengthof the link. In other embodiments the handle arm is positioned on a camwith different hole positions.

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide an apparatushaving advantages not taught by the prior art.

Another objective is to provide such an apparatus that utilizes theuser's body weight to provide adjustable resistance for variousexercises.

Another objective is to provide such an apparatus that can offer adesired range of exercise movement for various exercises and anaccommodation for different body-size users.

A further objective is to provide such an apparatus to make chin up anddip exercises safer than the existing machines by lowering the seat/kneepad to the ground and making the lowest position of the pad be thenatural default position for the users to get on and off.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following more detailed description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way ofexample, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention. In suchdrawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment having a handleadjustment within a link connecting a handle frame and a seat frame.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment showing thehandle adjustment within the link positioned for the handle arm to be atchin up or lat pull down exercise mode with the handle arm raised up.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment showing thehandle adjustment within the link positioned for the handle arm to be atdip exercise mode with the handle arm lowered.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an embodiment using a cam with a number ofholes in it for positioning the handle arm locked for knee raiseposition with the cam locked to the base frame.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the embodiment with the cam unlocked from thebase frame for exercises other than knee raise and the handle arm pulleddown as shown for an exercise such as dip.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the embodiment with the handle arm positionedon the cam for an exercise such as chin up at starting position.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of another embodiment having a bi-directional camand a secondary arm having a pulley, and the handle arm positioned foran exercise such as chin up at starting position.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the embodiment showing the handle arm pulleddown for an exercise such as chin up and the bi-directional cam and thesecondary arm moving together with the handle arm clockwise lifting theseat frame.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the embodiment with the bi-directional cam withthe handle arm positioned for exercises such as shoulder press and squatat starting position.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the embodiment showing the handle arm pushedup and the bi-directional cam moving together with the handle armcounterclockwise while the secondary arm stationary against the baseframe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The above described drawings FIGS. 1-10 illustrate the invention, acounter-gravity chin up and all body exercise machine, an apparatus 10comprising: a base frame 20 standing on a floor and supporting a seatframe 40 pivotally connected to base frame 20, a handle arm 60 alsopivotally connected to base frame 20 and pivotally linked to seat frame40 by a link 80 such that when handle arm 60 is moved by the user seatframe 40 is lifted up.

An embodiment in FIG. 1 comprises base frame 20 with a base beam 21 andan upright beam 27. Seat frame 40 with a seat 43 supported by a seatbeam 41 is pivotally connected to base frame 20 at a first pivot point25 on base frame 20. A portion of seat beam 41 provides a guide path forthe movement of an adjustment slider 45. The adjustment slider 45adjusts resistance via change in mechanical advantage of thesecond-class lever. While the user is exercising, adjustment slider 45is fixed at a location along the guide path by using a slider knob 47which can be a threaded bolt with a knob to be tightened against thesurface of seat beam 41 or a pin if a number of holes, not shown, isprovided on seat beam 41 for the pin to engage. Handle arm 60 ispivotally connected to base frame 20 at a second pivot point 29 and hasa set of handles 65, 65′ to provide the user grips for exercises such aschin up and a second set of handles 63, 63′ to provide grips forexercises such as dip or knee raise. For knee raise exercise, arm pads67, 67′ and a back pad 69 are fixed on a handle frame 61 of handle arm60 to provide padding for the user. A distance away from second pivotpoint 29 on handle frame 61, one end of link 80 is pivotally connectedto handle arm 60 at a fourth pivot point 71. And the other end of link80 is also pivotally connected to a third pivot point 49 on adjustmentslider 45. Therefore, link 80 is pivotally engaged to and connectedbetween handle arm 60 and seat frame 40 such that seat frame rotates upabout first pivot point 25 on base frame 20 when handle arm 60 is pulleddown and rotated about second pivot point 29 on base frame 20. When theuser sits on or kneels on a seat pad 43 fixed on seat beam 41 of seatframe 40 putting his/her weight on the pad and pulls handle arm 60 downat the handles, seat 43 moves up lifting the user's body. The user feelsthe resistance on the handles because he/she is lifting himself orherself. The amount of the lift or the resistance can be changed and setby moving adjustment slider 45 along the guided path on seat beam 41.Moving and fixing adjustment slider 45 closer to first pivot point 25will make the resistance at the handles higher and the amount of thelift of the body increases.

In FIG. 1, the first embodiment is shown with an adjustment means 90 onlink 80, for setting an angular position for the handle arm 60. The link80 shown in FIG. 1 comprises an outer member 83 retaining a handle armadjustment pin 85 and an inner member 81 having a number of adjustmentholes 87. The inner member 81 and the outer member 83 are telescopicallyengaged and adjustable using adjustment pin 85 into one of adjustmentholes 87. In FIG. 2, link 80 is adjusted and set such that handle arm 60is positioned for exercises such as chin up. In FIG. 3, link 80 isadjusted and set such that handle arm 60 is positioned for exercisessuch as dip. With adjustment slider 45 set and fixed at the sameposition, the distance between the handles and the seat pad opens upmore in FIG. 2 when link 80 is adjusted to be shorter in length betweenthird pivot point 49 and fourth pivot point 71 than the distance on thesame embodiment shown in FIG. 3 when link 80 is adjusted to be longer.

The same adjustment on handle arm 60 can be done by using a cam 83′ thatis pivotally engaged to base frame 20 at second pivot 29 as shown inFIG. 4. A cam point 71′ on cam 83′ is linked to adjustment slider 45 atpivot point 49 by a tension link 81′. Tension link 81′ in FIG. 4 can beeither a rigid link or a flexible line. Cam 83′ has a number ofadjustment cam holes 87′ positioned about an equal distance away fromsecond pivot 29 for a pin 85′ on handle arm 60 to engage. In FIG. 4, pin85′ on handle arm 60 is engaged to one of cam holes 87′ such that thehandles are positioned at about a mid-level height. In FIG. 5, theembodiment, with the initial position of handle arm 60 set as shown inFIG. 4, is pulled down at the handles, and, as a result, seat 43 movesup. In FIG. 6, the embodiment is shown with the handle arm 60 positionedfor exercises such as chin up. Comparing to the position of handle arm60 shown in FIG. 4, handle arm 60 in FIG. 6 is locked at a differenthole of cam holes 87′ on cam 83′ to give different position of thehandles. In the embodiment in FIG. 5, a stop, not shown, is placed oncam 83′ to allow cam 83′ to rotate clockwise from its stop position andreturn to its stop position. The stop prevents cam 83′ from rotatingcounter-clockwise from its stop position. This allows the handles ofhandle arm 60 only to be pulled down for an exercise when handle arm 60is locked to cam 83′. Since a cam stop is well known, a variety of stopscan be used.

Handles 63, 63′, 65, 65′ may be pulled down or pushed up for variousexercises in an embodiment shown in FIGS. 7-10. In the embodiment,second pivot point 29 on base frame 20 is commonly shared by handle arm20, cam 83′, and a pulley arm 91 for their rotational axis. In FIG. 7,handle arm 60 is at its stop position and positioned at one of holes 87′on cam 83′. A first stop 31 is placed between base frame 20 and pulleyarm 91 to allow pulley arm 91 to rotate only clockwise direction fromits stop position and come back to its stop position. A second stop 103is placed between pulley arm 91 and cam 83′ to allow cam 83′ to rotateaway from the second stop on pulley arm 91 in counter-clockwisedirection only. Tension link 81′ of link 80 in this embodiment is aflexible tension member such as a cable or a belt. Tension link 81′ isconnected at third pivot point 49 on adjustment slider 45, and goes overa pulley 93 rotatably fixed at a point 95 on pulley arm 91, andconnected to cam point 71′ on cam 83′. In FIG. 8, the handles on handlearm 60 are pulled down from its stop position, and as a result, seat 43on seat beam 41 is lifted up from its stop position. As shown in FIG. 8,second stop 103 placed between cam 83′ and pulley arm 91 allows both cam83′ and pulley arm 91 to rotate together clockwise. But when the handleson handle arm 60 fixed to cam 83′ are pushed up, as shown in FIG. 10,cam 83′ rotates counter-clockwise from pulley arm,91 causing adisplacement of tension link 81′ between cam point 71′ on cam 83′ andpulley 93 on pulley arm 91. First stop 31 placed between base frame 20and pulley arm 91 prevents pulley arm 91 from rotating incounter-clockwise direction from its stop position. Pushing the handlesupward also produces the upward movement of seat 43 in the embodiment asshown in FIG. 10. In FIG. 9, a relationship between handle arm 60, cam83′, and pulley arm 91 is shown with cam 83′ and pulley arm 91 at theirstop positions. The handles of handle arm 60 are lowered and locked tocam 83′ for their initial position for exercises such as shoulder pressand quad. An end position of the handles in an exercise motion is shownin FIG. 10.

For knee raise exercise, handle arm 60 and seat frame 40 have to befixed to base frame 20 standing on a floor in a position of handle arm60 and seat frame 40 shown in FIG. 4. One option is using a pin to pinthrough base frame 20 to seat frame 40 to hold seat frame 40 from movingupward, or using a pin 23, as shown in FIG. 4, positioned near cam 83′to pin through base frame 20 to cam 83′ to hold handle arm 60 that isfixed at one of holes 87′ on cam 83′. Pin 23 is removed for otherexercises.

The apparatus rests with seat 43 at its lowest position in the motionrange. Since the handle arm and the seat are connected with a link, theuser, while standing on the ground, may move the handle arm to positionseat 43 at a proper level to get onto the seat. Once the user is on theseat, he/she will feel the resistance on the handle grips. He/she mayexercise chin-ups, dips, and other various exercises depending on thesetup. For exercises such as dips and chest press, the user may lowerthe handle position using handle arm adjustment pin 85, and at the sametime he/she can change the resistance level using slider knob 47. In theembodiments having a cam for adjusting handle position, pin 85′ is usedto change the handle arm position. The handle arm may be fixed at adesired position for knee raise exercise by using handle arm locking pin23. When the user pushes handle arm locking pin 23 in, the pin locks thelinkage system from moving. In the embodiments with a cam shown in FIG.4 and FIG. 7, handle arm locking pin 23 is located on upright beam 27near cam 83′ such that the pin is to lock the cam when it is pushed inthat freezes the linkage system. In the other embodiment shown in FIG.1, handle arm locking pin 23 is positioned on seat beam 41 to pinthrough a hole on upright beam 27. The user needs handle arm locking pin23 left unpinned for doing other exercises. As well known in the fieldof the art, handle arm locking pin 23 may be replaced with a strap thatwraps the seat and the base frame together or any other means to holdany part of the linkage system from moving relative to base frame 20 tohold the handle arm at a position while the using is performing kneeraise exercise.

It should be appreciated from the foregoing that the present inventionprovides an apparatus for exercises such as chin up, dip, and othervarious workouts using the user's weight as a resistance that can bechanged depending on the user's physical condition and demand fordifferent exercises. The apparatus provides safer chin up and dipexercises compared to the existing machines by lowering a seat/knee padto near the floor and making the lowest position of the pad be thenatural default position for the users to get on and off, eliminating aneffort to step up on the pad to be seated or kneeled, and a range ofhandle position to accommodate different body size users and exercises.The apparatus includes a base frame that stands on a floor and providesa first pivot point and a second pivot point, a seat frame having afirst point and second point, a handle arm having a first point andsecond point, a link having first and second ends, a first adjustmentand a second adjustment. The seat frame is rotatably attached to thefirst pivot point of the base frame at the first point of the seatframe, and the handle arm is rotatably attached to the second pivotpoint of the base frame at the first point of the handle arm. The firstend of the link is rotatably attached to the second point of the handlearm and the second end of the link is rotatably attached to the secondpoint of the seat frame. The first adjustment is placed between the linkand the seat frame such that positioning of the first adjustment on theseat frame relative to the first pivot point of the base frame changes aresistance for the exercises. The second adjustment is placed betweenthe base frame and the handle arm such that setting the secondadjustment changes the angular position of the handle arm.

Although the invention has been disclosed in detail with reference onlyto the preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat various other embodiments can be provided without departing fromthe scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is defined onlyby the claims set forth below.

1. A counter gravity exercise machine comprising: a. a frame; b. a seatbeam for supporting a user, pivotally connected to the frame at a firstpivot point on the frame; c. a link connected to the seat beam, whereinthe link has an upper link end and a lower link end; d. an adjustmentslider slidingly connected to the seat beam and the link at the lowerlink end, wherein sliding user adjustment changes resistance via changein a mechanical advantage; e. a handle arm pivotally connected to thelink at a fourth pivot point and wherein the handle arm rotates and isrotably mounted on a second pivot; f. an upright beam having an upperupright beam end and a lower upright beam end, wherein the lower uprightbeam end is connected to the frame and the upper upright beam end isconnected to the second pivot point.
 2. The counter gravity exercisemachine of claim 1, wherein the link is composite and length adjustable.3. The counter gravity exercise machine of claim 2, wherein the linkfurther comprises: a handle arm adjustment pin and adjustment holesspaced at intervals.
 4. The counter gravity exercise machine of claim 1,further comprising: a handle arm locking pin positioned to lock thehandle arm in a locked state.
 5. The counter gravity exercise machine ofclaim 2, wherein the handle arm locking pin is mechanically locked tothe upright beam.
 6. The counter gravity exercise machine of claim 1,wherein the handle arm has a forward end and a rearward end and furthercomprises: a cam rotably mounted on the second pivot; and a mechanicalconnection mechanically connecting the rearward end of the handle arm tothe cam.
 7. The counter gravity exercise machine of claim 6, wherein themechanical connection is configured as a handle arm adjustment pin thatadjustably engages with the cam.
 8. The counter gravity exercise machineof claim 6, wherein the mechanical connection is configured as a handlearm adjustment pin that adjustably engages with adjustment holes formedon the cam.
 9. The counter gravity exercise machine of claim 6, whereinthe link is a cable.
 10. The counter gravity exercise machine of claim6, wherein the cam is selectively locked to the upright beam by a handlearm locking pin.
 11. The counter gravity exercise machine of claim 1,wherein the handle arm has a forward end and a rearward end and furthercomprises: a. a cam rotably mounted on the second pivot; b. a mechanicalconnection mechanically connecting the rearward end of the handle arm tothe cam; and c. a pulley mounted on a pulley arm, wherein the pulley armrests against a pulley arm stop in a stop position but has freedom ofmovement toward an extended position; wherein the pulley arm stop limitsmovement beyond a stop position; wherein the pulley arm is mounted onthe second pivot; wherein the cam has a pulley arm pusher pushing thepulley arm toward an extended position when a user does exercises thatextend the pulley arm and wherein the link is a cable, whereby inexercises that do not extend the pulley arm, the handle arm movesindependently of the pulley arm, whereby the seat beam rises in responseto raising or lowering of the handle arm.
 12. The counter gravityexercise machine of claim 11, wherein the cam is selectively locked tothe upright beam by a handle arm locking pin.
 13. The counter gravityexercise machine of claim 11, wherein the mechanical connection isconfigured as a handle arm adjustment pin that adjustably engages withthe cam.
 14. The counter gravity exercise machine of claim 11, whereinthe mechanical connection is configured as a handle arm adjustment pinthat adjustably engages with adjustment holes formed on the cam.
 15. Thecounter gravity exercise machine of claim 1 1, wherein the stop positionis at the rearward end of the handle arm so that the stop limitscounterclockwise rotation of the pulley past around the 9 O'Clockposition.
 16. The counter gravity exercise machine of claim 11, whereinthe pulley is mounted on a pulley arm that moves in a single direction.17. The counter gravity exercise machine of claim 11, wherein the pulleyarm reciprocates between the stop position and the extended position,wherein the extended position is higher than the stop position.
 18. Thecounter gravity exercise machine of claim 11, wherein the pulley armreciprocates between the stop position and the extended position,wherein the extended position is lower than the stop position.